Cable clamp and seal



Aug. 17, 1954 A. c. GUY EI'AL 2,686,828 CABLE CLAMP AND SEAL Filed Aug. 31, 1950 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 17, 1954 2,686,828 CABLE CLAMP AND SEAL Albert C. Guy,

Hartford, and Robert E. Ulrich,

Riverton, N. 1., assignors to Radio Corporation of America,

a corporation of Delaware Application August 31, 1950, Serial No. 182,478

The terminal .15 years of the to be granted has been 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination clamp and fluid-tight seal for cables or electrical conductors extending through an opening in a walled enclosure.

In some applications, it is found desirable to provide a fluid-tight seal between the cable and the easing into which it extends.

type are satisfactory for some purposes, they possess the disadvantage that they do not provide a walled enclosure.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a clamp for an electrical conductor seal itself.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a combination clamp and -fluid-tight Seal for an electrical conductor extending gh the wall of an enclosure which is simple an enclosure. The clamping device includes means for preventing rotational and axial movement of the cable. The invention also includes sealing means for the cable opening. The clamping means and sealing means cooperate in that applied to emxst clamping of the cable is used to effect a fluid-tight seal.

The novel features characteristic of the present invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood term of the patent disclaimed ILL) I cred from their on opposite sides of the from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating its application to a cable extending through an opening in an enclosure the top of which is partly broken away,

Figure 2 is an enlarged, sectional view, taken along the line 2 2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged, sectional view, taken along the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout, the present invention is shown applied to a walled enclosure I, which may comprise any suitable type of easing or housing within which electrical or other components (not shown) are disposed for protection. An aperture 3 is provided in a wall 5 of the housing I, through which an electrical conductor or cable 1 is extended for connection with the components within the casing I.

In order to protect the wires from being sevconnection with components II, a. hollow gland member I3, and a compressible ring IS.

The clamp I I comprises a members I1, I3 disposed pair of jaws or block in spaced apart relation cable 1. The adjacent faces or sides of the block members I1, I9 are cut away to provide cable engaging surfaces 2I and gland engaging surfaces 23. gaging surfaces 2| are concave seat for the cable 1. The block and the cable engaging portion The cable enmembers I1, IS.

The gland engaging surfaces 23 are also concave and taper outwardly from the cable engaging surfaces ZI to provide conical surfaces against which the gland member I3 seats. The gland member I3 is a hollow, frusto-conical mem her, the interior to form a trumpet-mouthed gland of a diameter to receive the compressible ring I5 and the exsurface 25 of which is taperedbolts 29 are disposed adjacent opposite ends of the block members on opposite sides of the cable.

1. The bolts 29 extend the one block member apertures 33 in the other block member l9.

The clamp and seal members are disposed in a compartment 35 within the casing I and defined by the apertured wall 5, side walls 31 and shoulders 39 extending from the side walls. The shoulders 39 are spaced apart an amount sufficient to provide a space AI through which the cable 1 extends. The walls 43 of the shoulders 3i facing the apertured wall 5 are arranged so that when end portions of the block members I], I9 abut them the block members will be disposed substantially parallel with respect to the wall 5.

In assembling the parts prior to inserting the cable I into the casing I, the clamp and seal components are aligned within the casing compartment 35 with the compressible ring [5 disposed next to the casing wall 5 and surrounding the aperture 3. successively thereafter the gland member I3 and the block members ll, I9 are disposed in alignment preparatory to receiving the cable I for extension therethrough.

The cable 1 is extended respectively through the casing wall aperture 3, the compressible ring IS, the gland member 13 and between the block members 11, I9 an amount sufficient to attach it to components within the housing I. The bolts 29 are tightened to force the blocks I'I, I9 into engagement with the cable I. Simultaneously with the clamping force transmitted through the block members on the cable, pressure is exerted on the frusto-conical gland member I3 to force it outwardly from its seat within the recess provided by the gland engaging-surfaces 23. Since the block members II, I9 are prevented from moving longitudinally of the cable in a direction away from the casing wall opening 3 by the-shoulders $9, the gland member I3 will be urged in the direction of the casing wall opening 3. Movement of the gland member I3 in this direction will force the compressible ring 1 I5 into fluid-tight relation between the cable i, the interior surface 25 of the gland member, and the portion of the wall 5 surrounding the opening 3.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that the present invention provides a combination clamp and fluid-tight seal for a cable extending through an opening in a walled enclosure. The cable is not only secured against movement in either direction longitudinally thereof, but also against rotative movement. In addition, the arrangement of parts is such, that, cables can be quickly and easily replaced without destruction of the seal ring.

Although only a single preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and described herein, it should be obvious to those persons skilled. in the art that various changesand through openings 3| in l1 and engage threaded modifications thereof are possible within the spirit of the invention. For example, different means may be provided for applying clamping pressure, or more than two block members may be employed. Therefore, it is desired that the particular form of the present invention described herein shall be considered as illustrative and not as limiting.

, v.What is claimed is:

l. A cable clamp and seal for a cable adapted to pass through an opening in a wall of a casing, said clamp and seal comprising in combination a plurality .of spaced apart members adapted to engage the outer surface of said cable. sealing means comprising a gland member and a compressible ring disposed between said spaced apart j members and said casing for effecting a fluid tight seal between said cable and said casing wall, adjustable means urging said spaced apart members towards each other to exert pressure through said spaced apart members on said cable, and means including said spaced apart members for urging said gland member away from said spaced apart members and toward said casing wall upon movement of said spaced apart members towards each other, thereby to press said compressible ring against said casing wall.

2. A cable clamp and seal-for a cable adapted to pass through an opening in a wall of a casing, said clamp and seal comprising in combination a plurality of spaced apart members having means for frictionally holding said cable against movement, a gland member having an aperture through which said cable is adapted to extend, said gland member being disposed in contact with said spaced apart members, a compressible seal ring adapted to closely fit around said cable and disposed between said gland member and said casing wall, means compressing said spaced apart members toward each other to exert pressure through said spaced apart members on said cable, and means including said spaced apart members for urging said gland member away from said spaced apart members and toward said casing wall upon movement of said spaced apart members toward each other, thereby to press said seal ring against said casing wall.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 and wherein said gland member and said spaced apart members are provided with complementary tapered surfaces disposed in contact, said surfaces being tapered outwardly with respect to said cable in the direction of said seal ring.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 and wherein said gland member comprises a frustoconical member, and wherein said spaced apart members are provided with tapered surfaces, said tapered surfaces and the exterior surface of said frusto-conical member being complementary and disposed in contact with each other.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 and wherein said seal ring is dimensioned to seat within said gland member adjacent the base periphery thereof.

6. The combination with a'walled enclosure having an aperture in a wall thereof through which a cable is adapted to extend, of a cable clamp and'fluid-tight seal comprising a gland member having an aperture through which said cable is adapted to extend, said gland member being disposed within said enclosure and movable along said cable, clamping means within said enclosure engageable with the exterior surface of said cable, said clamping means including means movable laterally of the cable. for

the opposite end of said gland member for effectmg means opposite said gland member abuts ing a fluid-tight seal between said casing and 5 said interior wall to prevent axial movement of said cable. said cable inwardly of said enclosure.

7. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said clamping means comprises a plurality of Referencfis Cited in the file Of this patent 800%: memgers, and wherein the surface of said 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS 0c mem ers con ac ing said cable is of sue configuration as to deform said cable upon Numbel 4 Name Date clamping pressure being applied thereto through WF 1889 said block members- 8. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein Neltzel said clamping means comprises a plurality of 15 f g 3 block members each having an exterior surface i g arranged to contact interior surfaces of said 203O370 r e g 1936 walled enclosure to prevent rotation thereof. 2311427 9 g 1943 The invention defined in claim 6 wherein 85O2 e meyer e 194 said enclosure is provided with an interior wall 20 0 Wm 2.1mm 0c 6 in spaced apart relation to said first mentioned 2438412 Morrls 1948 

